Shock & Awe: It Never Happened "When U.S. bombs first pounded Baghdad, Fox News and other TV media breathlessly declared that the Pentagon's promised "shock and awe" campaign was "under way." In fact, it never took place, nor will it, U.S. officials say. The Pentagon at the last minute pulled its telegraphed super-punch, which was intended to quickly knock out Saddam Hussein's regime, officials say. And it still doesn't plan on delivering it as "Operation Iraqi Freedom" moves forward."